Monorunner coasting device



Jan. 23, 1940. R. GRIMM MQNORUNNER COASTING DEVICE Filed Sept. 13, 1938 RE. O m f mwJ/H O P I.

ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 23, 1940 "UNITED STATES 4 2,188,080 MONORUNNER- OOASTING DEVICE.

Royce Grimm, Snyder, N. Y., assignor-to Harrington Flier], Buffalo, N. Y.

Application September 13, 1938, Serial No. 229,723

6 Claims.

This invention relates to monorunner coasting devices, and it has particular reference to a device having a single runner in the form of a ski with a superimposed deck, so designed as to be rugged and durable in use-,and withal attractive to children.

Heretofore, it has been proposed to make coasting devices with single runners, but such prozpos'als as have come to my attention have included either very narrow members for the-runner, or very high seats disposed above the runmer, or both characteristics, thereby rendering the contrivance unstable-and inclined to tip over on one side or the other. Attempts have been made to provide auxiliaryside runners, thereby making in effect athree-runner sled, but I- deem such a proposal ill advised, because it detracts :from one of the desired salient features,-and also because it does not permit the pulling of the sled without constant likelihood of tilting, and running the sled deeply into a-snowbank. Inasmuch as children playing with sleds spend an .appreciable amount of their time pulling the sled along, as, for example, up a hillside preparatory to another coast down the hill, any sled which digs into the snow, or does not pull easily, detracts from the enjoyment of its use, and therefore from the utility of the sled itself.

Accordingly, one object of thepresent invention is to devise a single runner coasting device having afull sized seat or deck, upon which the user may lie prone, and wherein the elevation of 'thede'ck, and'the disposal and width of the *runner are so'related that the ski will readily remain on an even keel. This is accomplished bygiving to-the single runner enough "bearing area, and so'locatingthe deck with respectto the runner, that the center ofgravity is fairly low, and the ski assembly thereby acquires a desirable degree of stability. In the specific example of the invention hereinafter described, this (object is obtained by giving to the runner a hearing area or width of from 0.3 to 0.4 the total width of the deck, while holding the deck to an elevation above the runner of notmore than 1.5 to 2.0 times the runner width.

' Additionally, the runner extends, along the horizontal 'axis of the sled, appreciable distances beyond the'deck, and with this arrangement of parts, the assembly has'enough stabilityto remain level'when'pulled ornot in use, but may nevertheless be rolled or canted by the user while coasting,to eifect some degreeof steering and to increase the enjoyment of operation.

The runnner is advantageously made in the form a ski, with a pointed and curled forward end, and mid-portions to which are secured suitiablepedestals for supporting the deck. The runner and deck are advantageously. made of .wood to. give lightness --of construction commensurate with the strength desired, while the pedestals and other parts may be made of metal. These, and other features -of the invention, willbe more readily understood by reference to a detailed description'of the embodiment illustratedin the also be provided with one or more grooves Hi to effect a'better engagement of the -runner-with the snow and thus add to the stability without "greatly increasing the runner width.

Pedestals-l1 and -l8, which-aresubstantially alike except for their height, are mounted on the plane portions'lZ and I3 of the runner.

.Each pedestal consists of-a sheet metalprolate cylinder l9 whichisformed intothe shape shown.

and is welded both along the line of joint and also around one base toaxplate 2l-formed with flanged-sides 22, which plate and flangesare secured to the runner [0. By reference tofFig. 3, it will be seen' that the runner is recessed to receive the flanges; thus providing flush or continuous surfaces on the top andsides of the runner. It will further be observed that the pedestals are inclined toward therear of the ski and are'of less-height from front to rear, "thus imparting to the superimposed deck a slight-inclination. This feature is desirable, because it *permits' the child; lyingprone, to seea'headclear- -ly without conscious effort. The fomation of the pedestals as prolatecylinders and their inclinationtowardthe rear has other advantagesone, the structural strength and rigidity is increased;

:and second, the assembly is given a rakish ap- 'pearance suggestive of ships, or speed-augmenting the desire of the child-for the toy.

The deck "24 ismounted on the pedestals I! and I8 through the medium of cross bars 25- and .26, each of which is advantageously of T-section.

-As indicatedby thedotted Ilines in Fig. 1;: the pedestals .are'cut withslots' which receive the .fianges of the cross bars, the assembly being secured .by welding, while the websofthe cross 'barsare drilled at suitable points to receive bolts brother securing means forthe of the deck proper.

'In the specific embodiment shown, the deck is acorn-posed of: threev panels; 2 I; :28 ,4 and '29;: -wh-ich are all aflixed to the cross bars 252and226n Repanel .or panels ferring again particularly to Fig. 3, it will be noted that the cross bars are so bent that the outside panels 21 and 29 are pitched slightly toward the center panel, thereby imparting to the deck a concave section enabling the user to lie prone on the deck and hold the ski on an even keel more readily. At the same time, it is a simple matter, with the concavity of the deck, for the child to shift its weight, and thus the center of gravity, from one side to the other, thereby causing the ski to roll, if desired. In order to increase the durability, and to keep the deck panels from springing too much, an additional wooden cross bar 3i is secured to the under side of all of the panels, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

The center panel 28 projects forward of the side panels 21 and 29, to receive and support at its extremity a yoke 33. The yoke consists of a bent tube of wood or metal, which is formed with a slot 34 having a length equal to the width of the central panel, so that the yoke 33 may be directly mounted on, and secured to, the end of the panel 28. The extremities of the yoke 33 are generally aligned with additional side rails or hand holds 35 and 36, which are mounted in semi-circular extensions 31 on the ends of the cross bars and 26. Screws or other suitable securing means (not shown) may be provided at all points of contact between the yoke 33, side rails, and deck or cross bars, to insure durability of construction.

In use, the present invention gives to the child the combined advantages of the old-fashioned coasting sled, because of the provision of the large deck, and also some of the advantages of an ordinary ski. Children have been observed in having become adapt in steering the ski by movements similar to those used in the operation of regular skis, and thus they derive the pleasures incident to a simulation of skiing, without its attendant dangers, because the deck is too low to admit of a hazardous fall. The ski may be pulled or pushed and remain on an even keel, and the child may stand, or sit, or lie prone.

It will, of course, be further understood that while the invention has been described with reference to a single embodiment, it is intended to encompass all those modifications and variations which may occur to those skilled in the art, and which fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A monorunner coasting device comprising a single runner in the form of a ski, spaced pedestals mounted on the runner, cross bars disposed transversely of the runner and secured-to said pedestals, and a deck secured on the cross bars, said runner having a width of from three to four tenths the overall deck width, said deck being disposed above the runner not more than twice the runner width, whereby said device is stable.

2. A monorunner coasting device comprising a single runner in the form of a ski, spaced bearing areas on the runner, said areas being formed with recessed side. portions, plates formed with side flanges mounted on said bearing areas, the flanges of said plates engaging said recesses to secure said plates to the runner with continuous surfaces, pedestals united to said plates, cross bars disposed transversely of the runner connected to said pedestals, and a deck secured to the cross bars..

in transverse section.

3. In a monorunner coasting device, an elongated single runner having an upwardly curved and pointed forward end, said runner having the general form and appearance of a ski, pedestals mounted on the runner in spaced'relation intermediate the extremities thereof, said pedestals being of progressively decreasing height from front to rear of the runner, said pedestals being inclined toward the rear of the runner and being in the form of prolate cylinders, cross bars disposed transversely of the runner and being secured to the pedestals at the tops thereof, said cross bars having, a greater elevation above the runner at the ends thereof than at the pedestals, and a deck secured to the cross bars, said deck terminating short of the extremities of the runner and being inclined toward the rear of the runner and concave in section.

4. In a monorunner coasting device, an elongated single runner having an upwardly curved and pointed forward end and having the form and appearance of a ski, pedestal plates mounted on the runner, in spaced relation between the ends of the runner, prolate cylindrical pedestals affixed to the plates, T-section cross bars mounted transversely of the pedestals and secured thereto at the upper ends thereof, the pedestals having a height of not more than twice the width of the runner, said cross bars extending symmetrically from either side of the pedestals and overhanging the runner, a deck mounted on the cross bars, said deck having a width of not substantially more than three times the runner width.

5. In a monorunner coasting device, an elongated single runner having an upwardly curved and pointed forward end, spaced pedestals mounted on the runner intermediate the ends thereof, said" pedestals being in the form of prolate cylinders inclined toward the rear of,

the runner and being of progressively less height from front to rear, cross bars disposed transversely of the runner secured to each pedestal,

said cross bars overhanging the runner and being concave in section, said bars terminating at their ends in semi-cylindrical sockets, a deck secured to the cross bars and extending longitudinally of the runner and terminating short of the ends thereof, said deck being thereby concave in section and inclined with respect to the runner, the central portion of the deck extending forward over the runner and terminating short of the curved end thereof, and a hand rail disposed at either side of the deck and;

mounted in said sockets, said hand rail continuing forward to the forward extending end of the deck and being secured thereto.

6-. A monorunner coasting device comprising a single runner in the form of a ski, spaced bearing areas on the runner, pedestals mounted on each of the bearing areas, said pedestals being inclined toward the rear of the ru'nner'and being of progressively less height from front to rear, transverse cross .bars secured to the pedestals at the upper ends thereof, said bars having substantially horizontal portions adjacent the pedestals merging into upwardly inclined end portions, and a deck extending lengthwise of the runner and mounted on and secured to said cross bars, said deck thereby being inclined with respect to the ,body of the runner and concave ROYCE GRIMMI. 

